Abstract

A survey of helminth parasites of sheep and cattle was conducted to determine the incidence and distribution of these parasites that could be detected by post-mortem examination. Animals were obtained from local abattoirs within the valley, and the viscera were examined for the presence of helminth parasites. Parasites identifies from sheep in order of highest incidence were: Haemonchus contorus, Ostertagia cicumcinta, Chabertia ovina, Nematodirus spathiger, Trichostongylus colubriformis, Thysanosoma actinioides, Trichuris ovis, N. filicollis, Echinococcus granulosus, Strongyloides papillosus, O. ostertagi, Cooperia oncophora, Cysticercus tenuicollis, Fasciola hepatica, Oesophagostomum venulosum, Moniezia expansa, and M. benedieni. Those recovered from cattle in order of highest incidence were: Cooperia oncophora, Ostertagia ostertagi, Fasciola hepatica, C. mcmasteri, O. circumcinta, Moniezia benedeni, Seteria cervi, M. expansa, Chabertia ovina, Haemonchus placei, and Nematodirus spathiger. Many of the parasites encountered require a moist environment for development and survival of the free-living stages. Utah Valley is situated in a semi-arid environment and the additional moisture needed to produce optimal condidtions for larval development, survival, and subsequent transmission is added through irrigation.

Degree

College and Department

Life Sciences; Plant and Wildlife Sciences

Rights

http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/